What is an ICT system?

ICT and computers are NOT the same thing. An ICT system is a set-up

consisting of hardware, software, data and the people who use them. It

very often also includes communications technology, such as the

Internet. Computers are the hardware that is often part of an ICT

system.

This is why your GCSE is not just about computers, but about how,why

and when people use them. It is the power of computers and

communications that has allowed ICT systems to become so important.

Like any piece of equipment, the important thing about it is what it

lets us do.

ICT Systems are used in a whole host of places, from offices, shops,

factories, aircraft, ships, and communications to medicine and

farming. They are everyday and ordinary yet extraordinary in how they

can add extra power to what we do and want to do.

ICT systems have become important because by using them we become:

* More productive in that we can do more things more quickly and at

reduced cost.

* More accurate and able to work continuously.

* Able to deal with vast amounts of information and process it

quickly.

* They can transport information rapidly.

Types of ICT system

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There are different types of ICT system. The main aim of each system

decides which name is sometimes used for it.

Information systems

Many ICT systems are set up to manage data and information. Examples

of these are a Sports Club membership system or a Supermarket Stock

system.

Control Systems

Other ICT systems have controlling machines as their main aim. They

still use input, process and output, but the output may be moving a

robot arm to weld a car chassis rather than information.

Communications Systems

Yet other ICT systems are dedicated to communications. Their output is

the successful transport of data from one place to another.

Input, output & system diagrams

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What comes out of an ICT systems is largely dependant on what you put

into the system. The acronym GIGO is a good way of thinking about

this.

GIGO can be interpreted in 2 ways:

1. Good Input, Good Output

ICT systems work by taking inputs or instructions and data, processing

them and producing outputs that are stored or communicated in some

way. The higher quality and better thought-out the instructions, the

higher quality and more useful will be the outputs.

2. Garbage In, Garbage Out

ICT systems all "fall down" if the inputs are inaccurate or faulty;

they will either not be able to process the data at all, or will

output data which is eroneous or useless. That's why the term GIGO is

sometimes used to stand for "Garbage In, Garbage Out".